It said a hub airport was the one solution that ‘addresses the ticking time bomb of our lack of spare hub capacity’.

Heathrow, the UK’s only hub airport, said the CBI’s comments showed it was best placed to serve the need for expansion via the construction of a third runway.

Boris airport: An artist's impression of the four-runway Thames Estuary airport on the Isle of Grain that was produced by architect Lord Foster

‘This recommendation essentially shows that British business is backing Heathrow, as the UK’s only hub airport, to connect the country to global growth,’ said boss John Holland-Kaye.

‘Only Heathrow has the ability to provide the long haul routes that will help our businesses make the deals in those countries that will help the UK prosper.’

But Gatwick said more hub capacity could be achieved by switching some traffic to its own airport, freeing up space at Heathrow.
It said a second runway at Gatwick would create ‘two world class airports’ and foster competition.